Levi van Kempen and Linda Verstraten Join Cast of &Juliet Musical Netherlands
Broadway & West End hit & Juliet is transferring to the Netherlands! Earlier, it was announced that Teddy Vermeer will step into the role of Juliet. Now, Stage Entertainment has announced that singer and host Levi van Kempen is going to play William Shakespeare in the pop musical, alongside Linda Verstraten as Anne Hathaway.
The story follows Juliet, who gets the opportunity to rewrite her own story with the help of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. However, because the two have completely different ideas, their creative visions constantly clash. Is it all going to be alright? On May 20th, the audience will get an exclusive first look at the show during the Musical Awards.
More about the show
& Juliet is the international hit musical that puts a surprising, contemporary twist on the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet. What if Juliet didn't die, but instead chose a new life full of freedom, love, and self-determination?
The production will be performed in Dutch, but will feature the original English pop songs. This energetic power-pop musical weaves world-famous hits from the '90s and '00s into a humorous and innovative story. Expect to hear anthems like Since U Been Gone, Roar, ...Baby One More Time, Larger Than Life, That’s The Way It Is, and Can’t Stop the Feeling!
All songs were written and/or produced by Max Martin, one of the most successful pop composers and producers of this century.
Through a modern lens, the musical explores current themes such as being yourself, making your own choices, and standing up for who you are, all wrapped in a healthy dose of humour. The book was written by Emmy winner David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), with choreography by Jennifer Weber and direction by Luke Sheppard.
Internationally, the show was honoured with three Olivier Awards and six WhatsOnStage Awards, alongside receiving nine Tony Award nominations. Since its London premiere in 2019 and Broadway opening in New York in 2022, & Juliet has grown into a global phenomenon.
Who will play the roles of May, François, Angélique, and Lance will be announced at a later date. The musical will play at the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht starting September 2026.
First performance
On Wednesday, May 20th, & Juliet will perform live for the very first time during the Musical Awards Gala. Teddy Vermeer (Juliet), Levi van Kempen (Shakespeare), and Linda Verstraten (Anne Hathaway) will perform a medley of pop hits from the show, including Katy Perry's Roar and the Backstreet Boys' I Want It That Way.
The Musical Awards Gala will be broadcast live on television starting at 8:35 PM on NPO 1.
More information about the show and tickets can be found on the Stage Entertainment website.
Photos are taken by William Rutten
